Validation in Folkbildning and volunteer activities

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We learn everyday, all the time. We can’t help ourselves, it is in our nature.

In adult education we separate between formal, non-formal and informal learning. All of us use all three forms. For some reason the learning that takes place in a formal setting has come to be seen as the ”best” form of learning. It is institutionalised and provides the learner with grades or other credentials/certifications at the end of the learning period.

Non-formal learning has long prided itself with its freedom to focus on individual needs. It is also by tradition without a set curriculum, and it avoids assessments of learning outcomes. Informal learning is in this respect the poor cousin from the countryside, not really taken seriously.

For the learner these distinctions are less important. You lack a skill, you are weak on a competence, you feel undereducated. The reasons you enrol are as manifold as the participants themselves.

The idea behind Open Badges is simple. A light weight validation system that is endlessly customizable. Integrated with your online presence. A touch of gamification. An attempt at making learning fun.
But don’t let the flashy graphics fool you. Behind the scenes awarding criteria, transparency issues and system protocols are taken very seriously. If Open Badges are to play a role as a validator of skills, knowledge and competences it must tread a narrow path between ease of use, portability and reliability.

The webinar includes a presentation by Ilona Buchem (PhD), professor in residence for Digital Media & Diversity at Beuth University of Applied Sciences in Berlin. Her research and teaching focus on the intersections of digital media and society, especially digital learning and communication. Some of her current research and development areas include digital badges, digital portfolios, digital diversity and digital communities. She is Chair of the Special Interest Group on Wearable Technology Enhanced Learning at the European Association of Technology Enhanced Learning (EATEL), the founder of the Europortfolio German Chapter and the German-speaking Open Badges Usergroup. She has been involved in a number of national and international projects, including the EU project “Badge Europe” dedicated to Open Badges.

All participants will receive a participation badge.

The webinar lasts for 60 minutes. If you cannot attend, a recording will be available afterwards. If possible, you should attend the webinar live, it gives you the opportunity to network and to interact with the presenters and the other participants.

By the 1st of March 2015, the process of earning the badge will be open for pilot. We start by inviting adult educators to test our system and earn a badge of their own. But if you are interested in participating and have not received an invitation, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Now we have the results of the need analysis survey showing that all respondents’ use social media in their free time and 7 out of 10 use them for professional development and sharing educational content with colleagues online.

According to our respondents, it’s not lack of skills that keeps them from using web tools and social media but the lack of time because half of the respondents feel that they would use the Internet more for professional purposes if they had more time.

Of the learning platforms presented in the survey, Moodle and Facebook were the two activities of which respondents feel that they are experienced users. Even though Twitter, LinkedIn, Yammer and other tools are widely used in general, it seems that the adult educators responding to our survey have little experience in using them.

Many, many thanks to all our respondents – your answers are valuable for further development of the badge.

Until the 6th of November 2014 we are collecting information on adult educators’ experiences and ideas. Please respond to our needs analysis questionnaire and don’t forget to click on the submit icon at the end. We value your contribution!

The questionnaire is in English, but you can also fill in the open questions in Finnish, Swedish or Icelandic (even though English is preferred).Access questionnaire

The Learning area will contain resources and references, such as links to learning opportunities and web based communities about Open badges and validation, lists of pedagogical issues associated with badges, checklists for badge issuers, samples of good practice, interviews with badge earners and more.

Our aim is to create and Open Badge for Nordic adult educators. We welcome your comments and input to this project so either leave your comment here, send us an email or join us on Facebook under Open badges for adult educators and Twitter #folkbadge.